Success in Lake Placid

LAKE PLACID, NY (Jan. 14, 2017) – The U.S. Ski Team aerials athletes put on a show at the Olympic Jumping Complex Saturday night to close out the Putnam Investments Freestyle Cup weekend. Ashley Caldwell (Ashburn, VA) and Mac Bohonnon (Madison, CT) both landed on the podium, with Caldwell taking the win for the women and Bohonnon finishing second for the men.

The Lake Placid world cup stop is extra special for the U.S. athletes because many of them got their start there as part of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association’s (USSA) Elite Aerial Development Program. Both Caldwell and Bohonnon were part of that program and have progressed to become two of the best jumpers on the U.S. team.

“Winning in Lake Placid is amazing,” said Caldwell. “I trained here for five years, so to come out here and show everyone that all that hard work I put in so many years ago is still paying off is a nice feeling.”

Caldwell, who was the last jumper in the super final round, solidified her win with a full, full, full and a score of 99.63. This is the second time she’s won at Lake Placid, the first being in 2011 when she was just 17 years old.

Members of the U.S. Ski Team staff celebrate with Caldwell and Bohonnon.

“I love doing triples,” continued Caldwell. “It’s exhilarating, it’s difficult, it’s challenging, but ultimately it’s rewarding. After all the tough stuff I go through, nights like tonight make it all worth it.”

Bohonnon, who won the men’s competition at the last event in Lake Placid in 2014, echoed Caldwell’s sentiments of winning on home turf.

“This is my favorite place in the world to jump,” said Bohonnon “I had so many friends and family make the trek up to watch the event. I felt at home, I felt comfortable. I was jumping really well all day. To be here in Lake Placid, in front of my family and friends, was so much fun.”

Mac Bohonnon competes in the final rounds of the men’s aerials competition. (FIS/Buchholz)

After qualifying with the highest score, Bohonnon went on to land two solid jumps in finals. His super final jump, a double full, full, full, scored a 119.46, just behind Belarusian Anton Kushnir’s winning score of 120.36. It was the fourth time Bohonnon and Caldwell have podiumed together at the same event – making yet another memory in the place where their aerials careers began.

“I was hoping to get that win so that Ashley and I could share a win together, but it’s exciting nonetheless,” said Bohonnon “We both got into this program here in Lake Placid back in 2008 and have been teammates ever since. Sharing a podium with any teammate is always fun, but with Ashley it is really special.”

The U.S. Ski Team ended the weekend with four podiums, two each, between the moguls and aerials competitions. The FIS Freestyle World Cup tour for moguls continues Jan. 21 in Val St. Come, Canada. Aerials is back in action Feb. 5 at the Visa Freestyle International at Deer Valley Resort, UT.

HIGHLIGHTS

Ashley Caldwell won and Mac Bohonnon finished second, bringing home two podiums for the U.S. aerials team.

Caldwell won the women’s event with a full, full, full and a score of 99.63.

It was Caldwell’s sixth career World Cup win and her second win at Lake Placid.

Australia’s Danielle Scott was second and Russia’s Kristina Spiridonova third.

Bohonnon’s super final jump, a double full, full, full, earned him a score of 119.46, just behind the winning score. It was his eighth career World Cup podium.

Belarusian Anton Kushnir claimed his second win of the season, while Russia’s Maxim Burov was third.

U.S. athlete Jon Lillis (Pittsford, NY) also landed in the top 10, finishing fifth.

Caldwell and Bohonnon have been on the podium at the same event four times, but have yet to share a win together.

The U.S. Ski Team closed out the Putnam Investments Freestyle Cup with four total podiums, two in moguls and two in aerials.

QUOTES

Ashley Caldwell
Winning in Lake Placid is amazing. I trained here for five years, so to come out here and show everyone that all that hard work I put in so many years ago is still paying off is a nice feeling.

I love doing triples. It’s exhilarating, it’s difficult, it’s challenging, but ultimately it’s rewarding. After all the tough stuff I go through, nights like tonight make it all worth it.

Mac Bohonnon
It was a really awesome night. We couldn’t have asked for better weather, the site was amazing. The hill crew here and all the coaches made this site as perfect as we could have asked for. This is my favorite place to jump in the world. I had so many friends and family make the trek up to watch the event. I felt at home, I felt comfortable. I was jumping really well all day. To be here in Lake Placid, in front of my family and friends, was so much fun.

I was hoping to get that win so that Ashley and I could share a win together, but it’s exciting nonetheless. We both got into this program here in Lake Placid back in 2008 and have been teammates ever since. Sharing a podium with any teammate is always fun, but with Ashley is really special.